Beauty ingredients explained in plain English

Polydiallyl phthalate is a synthetic film-former that helps products stay put, but its use is limited due to concerns about phthalate-related safety and environmental persistence.

A gentle silicone that helps products glide on smoothly and leaves skin feeling soft without clogging pores.

A silicone polymer that helps products glide on smoothly and stay put, but offers no active skincare benefits.

Polydipentene is a synthetic polymer that helps create a flexible, water-resistant film on skin or lashes, but it offers no active skincare benefits.

A synthetic film former that helps products stay put and resist water, but offers no active skincare benefit.

A synthetic polymer that helps makeup and skincare stay put without feeling heavy or sticky.

Polyethylacrylate is a safe, synthetic film-former that helps products stay put and resist water, but it may feel slightly tight or heavy on very dry or sensitive skin.

A synthetic polymer that helps products form a flexible film on skin or lashes, but offers no active skincare benefits.

Polyethylene Naphthalate is a synthetic polymer used mainly in packaging and as a film former in cosmetics, but it offers no direct skin benefit and raises environmental concerns.

A synthetic film-former that helps products resist water and last longer, but offers no active skincare benefit.

A synthetic film-former that helps makeup and sunscreen stay put longer without feeling heavy or sticky.

A synthetic film-former that helps makeup last longer and resist water, but may feel heavy on very sensitive skin.

A gentle, biodegradable polymer that improves product feel and wear without clogging pores or irritating skin.

A gentle, plant-based film former that gives products a silky, non-greasy finish and helps ingredients stay put without clogging pores.

A film-forming polymer that helps makeup and sunscreen stay put longer, especially in water-resistant formulas.

A synthetic silicone polymer that helps products stay put and resist water, but may feel heavy on some skin types.

A gentle, biodegradable film-former that helps lock in moisture and may support the skin barrier.

A synthetic polymer that creates a smooth, silky feel on skin and helps other ingredients form a light, flexible film.

A synthetic film-former that helps makeup and sunscreen stay put, but offers no skincare benefit.

Polyisoprene is a synthetic rubber-like polymer that helps cosmetics stay put, but it offers no active skincare benefits.

A gentle film-forming ingredient that helps products feel silky and stay put without clogging pores.

A gentle, amino-acid-based polymer that helps skincare products feel silky and stay put without clogging pores.

A synthetic polymer that helps products stay put on skin, especially in water-resistant formulas.

A synthetic film-former that helps products stay put, but it's rarely used in modern skincare and has limited research on long-term skin effects.

A synthetic film-former that helps products stay put and resist water, but offers no active skincare benefit.

Polypentene is a synthetic polymer that helps products spread smoothly and form a light, flexible film on skin or hair.

A synthetic film-former that helps products resist water and sweat, but its environmental persistence raises concerns.

A synthetic film-former that helps products spread smoothly and resist water, but its environmental persistence raises concerns.

A synthetic, silicone-like ingredient that creates a smooth, water-resistant film on skin and hair, but raises environmental persistence concerns.

A synthetic film-former that helps makeup and skincare last longer and feel smoother, but offers no active skin benefits.

A synthetic film-former that helps makeup and hair products stay put, but offers no active skincare benefit.

A gentle, synthetic polymer that smooths hair and skin by forming a thin, flexible film.

Polyquaternium-9 is a gentle conditioning polymer that helps reduce frizz and static without heavy buildup.

Polysilicone-1 is a gentle silicone that helps products spread smoothly and stay put without clogging pores.

A gentle silicone polymer that creates a smooth, velvety feel on skin and helps products spread evenly without clogging pores.

Polysilicone-13 is a gentle silicone that helps products spread smoothly and resist water, but it offers no active skincare benefits.

Polysilicone-14 is a gentle film-forming silicone that helps products last longer and feel smooth, but it may not suit everyone who prefers silicone-free routines.

Polysilicone-16 is a gentle silicone that helps products glide on smoothly and leaves hair and skin feeling soft without heavy buildup.

Polysilicone-18 is a gentle silicone film-former that helps products stay put and resist water, but it may feel heavy on oily or acne-prone skin.

A gentle silicone that helps products glide on smoothly and stay put without clogging pores or causing irritation.

Polysilicone-2 is a gentle silicone that smooths skin and hair without heavy buildup, but offers no active skincare benefits.

Polysilicone-20 is a gentle silicone that helps products spread smoothly and leaves skin feeling soft without clogging pores.

Polysilicone-21 is a gentle, non-comedogenic film former that helps products spread smoothly and resist water without feeling heavy.

Polysilicone-22 is a gentle film-forming silicone that helps products resist water and sweat while leaving a smooth, non-greasy feel.

Polysilicone-23 is a gentle silicone that creates a smooth, non-greasy film on skin and hair, but it may not suit those avoiding silicones entirely.

Polysilicone-26 is a gentle silicone that helps products spread smoothly and stay put, but it may feel heavy for oily skin types.

Polysilicone-27 is a gentle film-forming silicone that helps makeup and sunscreen stay put without clogging pores.

Polysilicone-28 is a gentle film-forming silicone that helps products glide on smoothly and stay put without clogging pores.

Polysilicone-30 is a gentle film-forming silicone that helps products feel smooth and stay put, but it may not suit those who prefer silicone-free routines.

Polysilicone-31 is a gentle silicone that creates a smooth, velvety finish on skin without clogging pores, making it a popular choice for primers and long-wear makeup.

Polysilicone-33 is a gentle silicone that creates a smooth, velvety finish on skin and helps products spread evenly without clogging pores.

Polysilicone-7 is a gentle film-forming silicone that helps products spread smoothly and resist water, but it may not suit those avoiding silicones entirely.

Polysilicone-8 is a gentle silicone that creates a smooth, breathable film on skin and hair, improving texture without clogging pores.

A synthetic film-former that helps makeup last longer and resist water, but may feel heavy on very oily skin.

Polystyrene is a synthetic plastic used mainly in nail polish and peel-off masks; it's generally safe in small amounts but raises environmental concerns.

A synthetic film-former that helps makeup and skincare stay put longer, but offers no active skin benefits.

A synthetic polymer that helps products stay put longer, but offers no active skincare benefit.

A synthetic film-former that helps makeup and sunscreen stay put longer, but offers no active skincare benefit.

A synthetic polymer that helps products spread smoothly and stay put, with a low risk of irritation.

Polyurea Crosspolymer-5 is a synthetic polymer that helps makeup and skincare products last longer and feel smoother on the skin.